Strength in Her Roots: Creating Space for Health, Wellness, and Growth – Beyond the Game

Written By Morgan Knox

Beyond the Game is a series where we take a look at former athletes who have taken the skills, discipline, and drive from their playing days and turned them into winning careers and businesses off the field. These stories show how the hustle doesn’t stop when the game ends – it just takes on a new form. 

Tell us your name, where you went to high school and college, sports played at both, and then a little bit of background on your business you own.

  • Name: Mary Knox
  • High School: North Harford
  • College: University of Maryland College Park
  • High School Sports: Soccer and Lacrosse
  • College sport: Lacrosse
  • Current Business: Knox Training is a health and fitness gym located in Whiteford MD with the intent to help individuals reach their performance and lifestyle goals. At Knox Training we focus on creating an environment that is both welcoming and challenging for all age groups. Whether you are an athlete or just starting your health and fitness journey, Knox Training is focused on providing each person with the tools they need to succeed in and out of the gym. The only true way to see progress is through consistency, discipline, commitment and hard work. It is bigger than just getting a pull-up for the first time, it is the lessons to be learned by the process, the dedication, and hard work it took to achieve that pull-up. That is what we hope each person receives and achieves when they workout at Knox Gym!

How did your experiences as a county athlete shape your mindset or approach to running a business today?

Being an athlete is one of the biggest reasons I am who I am today. You learn how to have structure, time management, team work skills, community, and belief in yourself. It also teaches you how to fail and fail big and learn from those failures to grow and improve as a person and an athlete.

What lessons from competing locally—like dealing with pressure, failure, or rivalry—have helped you navigate challenges in business?

Honestly, the biggest lesson I have learned from competing is to take chances and risks. I learned that the only person who can hold you back is yourself and if you believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you, anything is possible. I learned that pressure can be a good thing and, if managed properly, you can leverage pressure to help build confidence. I also learned that if you are genuine, work hard, and do things for the right reasons and LOVE what you are doing, the tough days and pressure and stress are all worth it. Nothing in life that is worth having comes easy.

I am probably an overly competitive person in all aspects of my life. I thrive in competition and love having rivals and competing against other teams in sports. Winning for me was concrete proof that your hard work paid off. I always felt winning was such an important aspect of sport and as an athlete it is something you should strive to do and it was definitely a huge part of sports that mattered for me. I will say it did teach me though that if you focus on the process and you do everything that is in your control then winning will take care of itself. As I have grown up the meaning of winning was changed so much for me and I have learned that feeling like a winner isn’t defined by a scoreboard but rather the effort you put in, the commitment you make, and the passion and love you have for what you are doing. That’s what sport is all about, competing, showing up, and being proud of what you have achieved no matter what the score says.

Why was it important for you to come back and build your business here in the same county where you once competed?

I love where I live and I have a big family here that I want to really help create a healthy environment in which they can all grow. I have a huge passion for helping people and seeing people accomplish things that they never thought they would be able to do. It goes so far beyond how much weight a person can lift or how fast someone can run. For me it’s a culture, a community of like mindedness that I want to build for my kids, my nieces and nephews, my siblings, parents, grandparents, and my husband. It’s about spreading that across the entire community and sharing what I believe to be the cure for a lot of people which is movement, nutrition, community, friendship, and sincerity. People need people so why not be there for the people in my hometown.

What is one message you would like to leave with your community?

Love God, always trust yourself, surround yourself with like minded people, and always be kind to others. “People may not always remember what you have said but they will always remember how you made them feel.”

 

 

Related Posts

Coach’s Corner: Brian King

Coach’s Corner: Brian King

Coach’s Corner is a weekly column where local coaches share practical advice, personal insights, and valuable lessons from the world of youth and high school sports. Whether you’re a coach looking to lead better, a parent supporting from the sidelines, or a player working to grow on and off the field, Coach’s Corner offers guidance, encouragement, and real-world experience to help you navigate the game—and life—with purpose.

Beyond the Game with Dennis Schocket

Beyond the Game with Dennis Schocket

Dennis Schocket is a well known musician not only in the county he grew up in, but internationally. He reflects on how his time in sports helped him prepare for his career today.

Loading...